Dumping box



April 20, 1948.

FIGJ.

a. n. McINTYRE EI'AL h IO DUIPING BOX Filed Aug. 5, 1946 3 Shafts-Sheet 1 mmvrons BROUWER D.h Ic|NTYRE By WILLIAM D.McINTYRE mm Wm ATTORNEYS- April 1948- B. D. MclNTYRE ET AL 0, 56

DUMPING BOX Filed Aug. 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5.

INVENTORs BROUWER D.MCINTYRE y WILLIAM D.MclNTYRE A1) Wu ATTORNEYS April 20, 1948.

a. D. MlNTYRE ET AL 2,440,056

mnmue Box v Filed Aug. 5, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fuss;

FIG].

INVENTORS BROUWER DJICINTYRE 3y WILLIAM DJdclNTYRE ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 20', 1948 DUMPIN G BOX Brouwer D. McIntyre and William D. McIntyre,

Monroe, Mich.,

assignors to Monroe Auto Equipment Company, Monroe, Mlch., a corporation of Michigan Application August 5, 1946, Serial No. 688,462

21 Claims. (Cl. 222-185) The present invention relates to a dumping box and more particularly to a dumping box and stand combination particularly useful in supplying a large number of items for convenient access as for example adjacent an assembly line.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a stand having a forwardly extending ledge provided with front and side walls. Associated with the stand is a box having a downwardly movable bottom hinged along its rear edge and adapted when placed upon the stand and opened to have the forward edge of its bottom moved downward- 1y adjacent the rear edge of the forwardly extending ledge so as to provide a chute down which the articles in the box slide into position providing easy access on the ledge.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to facilitate the supplying of small articles by providing a box and stand combination adapted to supply the articles in a position for ready access. It is a further object of the present invention to facilitate the renewal of supplies of small articles by providing a readily transportable box into which the articles may be placed after which the box may be transported to the position where the articles are to be used and thereafter opened so that the articles slide downwardly therefrom into a position providing ready access thereto.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved dumping box;

Figure 2 is a partial end elevation of the improved dumping box;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the dumping box illustrating the placement of the box on the supporting stand;

- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the manner in which the bottom of the box is released for opening; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 with parts broken away showing how the articles in the box are displayed for ready access.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated the dumping box III which may conveniently be formed of corrugated sheet metal provided with a reinforcing beaded upper edge II. The bottom I2 of the box is also of corrugated sheet metal,

improved 2 as best seen in Figure 2, and is braced by crossbeams l3 which are illustrated as of U-shaped cross section. The bottom I2 is hinged at its rear edge to the box III by pins I4, the hinge connection being shown in detail in Figure 4 and comprising the hinge pin I4 welded or otherwise secured to the rearmost transverse beam l3 and extending through a suitable opening in a side plate I5 which will later be described. Extending alongthe front edge of the box is a U-shaped supporting bar 20 having downwardly turned supporting legs 2|. The bar 20 is mounted for rotational movement in tubular bearing elements 22 which are welded or otherwise secured to the foremost of the bottom supporting beams I3.

Means are provided for supporting the box In in elevated position above a stand and comprise runner-like legs 25 preferably formed of structural members of generally U-shaped cross section. The downwardly extending legs 2| formed at the ends of the bar 2|] are of a length such that when moved to downward position they engage the bottom of the legs 25 as indicated by the numeral 26. In this position, as will be readily apparent, they provide a firm rigid support retaining the bottom I2 in closed position with respect to the box.

Side plates 30 are provided in a position below the bottom of the box I2 and as indicated in Figure 1 are inclined. The side plates 30 cooperate with the bottom I2 when the bottom I2 is in downwardly open position to form a laterally closed chute down which elements carried by the box I 0 may slide. Conveniently, the plates 30 may be secured to the legs 25 along their sides and have a horizontally extending portion 3| along their top which may be welded or otherwise secured to inturned portions 32 of the sides of the box I0.

In order to accommodate downward swinging movement of the bottom I2 about the pivot connection I4, arcuate slots 33 are provided i the side plates 30 through which the ends of the bars 20 extend; so that the downwardly extending legs 2| thereof are located outside of the side plates 30.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, the box is illustrated in conjunction with the support therefor designated generally at 40. The support comprises legs M and a top frame portion 42 provided with a forwardly projecting ledge 43. The ledge 43 has side plates 44 and a short upwardly extending front edge 45 which serve to retain elements carried by the box II] on the ledge 43. The arrangement is such that when the bottom I2 is in downwardly open position it cooperates with the side plates 30 to form a chute discharging elements carried by the box "I onto the ledge 43.

Figures 5, 6 'and 7 illustrate the sequential steps in placing the box filled with suitable elements on the stand and opening the bottom so as to slide the elements on the ledge 43 in a position in which ready access may be had tothem. In Figure 5 the box I is illustrated as supported on a fork 50 of a suitable conveying device such for example as the type commonly referred to as a mule. This type of conveyer is provided with forwardly extending arms or forks on which the material being conveyed is transported, and means are associated with the conveyer for raising and lowering-these forks. In Figure 5 the box i0 is illustrated as supported on the arms 50 with its bottom closure [2 in closed position and retained in closed position not only by the engagement of the fork 50 but also by the legs 2| previously described. It will be appreciated that prior to transportation of the box In the legs 2i served as the sole means for retaining the bottom l2 in closed position.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated the next step in the manipulation of the improved dumping box. In this figure the legs 2| are shown as swung rearwardly and upwardly so as to bring their lower ends out of engagement with the inner surfaces of the runner-like box supporting legs 25. In this figure it will be appreciated that the bottom plate 12 is retained closed solely by virtue of the fact that it rests upon the fork .50 which serves as the support for the complete box assembly. I

In Figure 7 the next step of manipulation is illustrated in which the fork 50 is shown as moved downwardly and rearwardly with, respect to the box Ill. It will be appreciated that upon downward movement of the fork 50 the bottom l2 of the box moves downwardly until the forward edge thereof engages the upper surface of the support 40. It will further be understood from an inspection of Figure 7 that at the time the forward edge of the bottom I2 is located closely adjacent the rear edge of the forwardly extending ledge 43.

As a specific example of the material which is adapted to be transported and thereafter displayed for ready access by the improved construction, the box may be employed for carrying nuts, bolts, or the like. Articles of this nature will slide down the inclined bottom l2 and flow out upon the forwardly projecting ledge 43. However, the side piates 44 and the front wall 45 of the ledge will prevent the articles from spilling over. As articles are removed from the ledge 43 so that the level of articles thereon falls below a predetermined amount, additional articles will slide forwardly along the bottom l2 and maintain a constant supply of articles on the ledge 43.

When the supply of articles in the box III has been exhausted the conveyeris brought into position at the rear of the box and the fork 50 thereof is moved forwardly against the underside of the bottom l2, thus first closing the bottom 4 ply of material with which it is to be filled and the legs 2| will retain the bottom in closed position during filling operation.

While there has been illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the improved dumping box and associated dispensing support therefor, it will be appreciated that this has been done merely to enable those skilled in the art'to pracgage said ledge so as to permit downward sliding of. material in said box onto said ledge, and side plates below said box cooperating with said bottom to form a laterally closed chute for discharging material from said box when said bottom is in downwardly open position.

2. A dumping box structure comprising a box' having a downwardly opening bottom hinged thereto at its rear edge, generally U-shaped legs at the sides of said box, supporting members pivoted to said bottom adjacent the front thereof and engageable at their lower ends with the bottoms of said U-shaped supporting legs.

3.' A dumping box structure comprising a box having a downwardly opening bottom hinged thereto at its rear edge, generally U-shaped legs at the sides of said box, supporting members pivoted to said bottom adjacent the front thereof and engageable at their lower ends with the bot-' toms of said U-shaped supporting legs, said legs being formed from structural shapes of generally U-shaped cross section disposed with their open sides inwardly.

4. A dumping box structure comprising a box having a downwardly opening bottom hinged thereto at its rear edge, generally U-shaped legs at the sides of said box, supporting members pivoted to said bottom adjacent the front thereof and engageable at their lower ends with the bottoms of said U-shaped supporting legs, and side plates extending below said box and forming with said bottom a laterally closed chute for discharging material from said box when said bottom is open. i

5. A dumping box structure comprising a box having a downwardly opening bottom hinged thereto at its rear edge, generally U -shaped legs at the sides of said box, supporting members pivoted to said bottom adjacent the front thereof and engageable at their lower ends with the bottoms of said U-shaped supporting legs, and side plates extending below said box and forming with said bottom a laterally closed chute for discharging material from said box when said bottom is open, said supporting members being interconnected by a transverse portion extending across the front of said bottom, said side plates having arcuate slots therein through which the trans verse portion of said supporting members extend.

6. A'dumpingbox having a downwardly opening bottom hinged thereto at its rear edge, side plates extending below said box and forming with said bottom a laterally closed chute for discharging material from said box when said bottom is open, supporting means for said bottom comprising a bar extending across the front of said box and pivoted thereto, legs on the outer ends of said bars swingable into and out of supporting position, said legs being located laterally beyond said side plates, there being arcuate slots in said side plates through which said bar extends to accommodate downward movement of said bar upon opening of said bottom.

'l. A box having a bottom hinged at its rear edge thereto, a bar pivoted along the front edge of said bottom and having laterally extending supporting legs operable to hold said bottom closed, side plates extending below said box, and forming with said bottom a laterally closed chute when said bottom is open, said plates having arcuate slots through which the end portions of said bar extend so as to permit downward movement of said bottom.

8. A self-contained portable dumping box structure adapted to be engaged and lifted by a lifting device and removably positioned o a supporting stand or the like, including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion attachably connected with the latter for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, a supporting structure connected to said box for supporting the latter on a supporting surface, and means for releasably retaining said bottom in its upwardly swung position as a closure for said box portion whether said box be supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement therewith, said means being operable to release said bottom for downward swinging movement, whereby said bottom may be actuated by the lifting device so as to swing the same into its upwardly swung closure position.

9. A self-contained dumping box structure adapted to be lifted by the fork of a lift truck and removably positioned on a supporting stand or the like, comprising a box, a bottom closure for said box pivotally connected adjacent one end with the latter for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, supporting structure connected to said box for holding the latter above a supporting surface far enough to permit the entrance of the fork of a lift truck between said bottom and a supporting surface, whereby when said bottom is in its downwardly swung open position it may be engaged by the fork of the lift truck and swung upwardly so as to form a closure for said box, and means for releasably retaming said bottom as a closure for said box whether the latter be supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement with a supporting surface, said means being operable to release said bottom for downward swinging movement.

10. A self-contained dumping box structure adapted to be lifted by the fork of a lift truck and removably positioned on a supporting stand or the like, comprising a box, a bottom closure for said box pivotally connected adjacent one end with the latter for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, supporting structure connected to said box for holding the latter above a supporting surface far enough to permit the entrance of the fork of a lift truck between said bottom and the supporting surface, whereby when said bottom is in its downwardly swung open position it may be engaged by the fork of the lift truck and swung upwardly so as to form a closure for said box, means for releasably retaining said bottom as a closure for said box whether the latter be supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement with a supporting surface, said means being operable to release said bottom for downward swinging movement,

V 6 and depending side plates on said box shaped to define with said bottom, when the latter is in its downwardly swung position, a laterally enclosed chute open at the front beneath the bottom edge of the front wall of said box.

11. A self-contained portable dumping box structure adapted to be engaged and lifted by a lifting device and removably positioned on a supporting stand or the like, including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion attachably connected with the latter for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, a supporting structure connected to said box for supporting the latter on a supporting surface, and means for releasably retaining said bottom in its upwardly swung position as a closure for said box portion whether said box he supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement therewith, said means being operable to release said bottom for downward swinging movement whereby said bottom may be actuated by the lifting device so as to swing the same into its upwardly swung closure position, and depending side plates on said box shaped to define with said bottom, when the latter is in its downwardly swung position, a laterally enclosed chute open at the front beneath the bottom edge of the front wall of said box.

12. In combination, a supporting stand including a forwardly projecting ledge with front and side walls, a self-contained portable dumping box removably supported on said stand and including a bottom closure pivotally connected to said box for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, and supporting means for supporting said box on said stand far enough above the plane of said ledge to permit material within said box to slide along said bottom, when the latter is in a downwardly swung open position, and toward said stand and onto said stand ledge.

13. In combination, a supporting stand including a forwardly projecting ledge with front and side walls, a self-contained portable dumping box removably supported on said stand and including a, bottom closure pivotally connected to said box for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, and supporting means for supporting said box on said stand far enough above said stand to permit a lift truck fork to be inserted below said box bottom so as to swing said bottom to its upwardly swung closure position and remove said box from, or place said box on, said stand, said supporting means also supporting said box far enough above the plane of thesaid ledge to permit material within said box to slide along said bottom when the latter is in a downwardly swung open position, and onto said stand ledge.

14. In combination, a supporting stand including a. forward projecting ledge with front and side walls, a self-contained portable dumping box removably supported on said stand and including a bottom closure pivotally connected to said box for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, supporting means for supporting said box on said stand, side plates associated with said box and cooperating with said bottom and said ledge side walls to define a laterally enclosed chute open at the front beneath the lower edge of the front of the box whereby the forward edge of said bottom will, when in a downwardly swung open position, engage said ledge so as to permit sliding of material in said box onto said ledge within the confines of said chute.

15. A self-contained dumping box structure comprising a box portion, a bottom closure for saidbox, means pivotally connecting said bottom closure with said box portion adjacent the rear wall of thelatter for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, supporting structure connected with said box portion for'supporting the latter on a supporting surface, said supporting structure having an opening adjacent the rear wall of said box so as to permit the entrance ofv a fork of a lift truck between said bottom closure and a supporting surface whereby when said bottom is in its downwardly swung open position it may be engaged by a fork of the lift truck and swung upwardly so as to form a closure for said box, and means for releasably retaining the bottom for a closure for said box whether the latter be supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement with a supporting surface.

said means being operable to release said bottom may be engaged by a fork of the lift truck and swung upwardly so as to form a closure for said box, means for releasably retaining the bottom for a closure for said box whether the latter be supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement with a supporting surface, said means being operable to release said bottom closure for downward swinging movement, and confining means connected to said dumping box structure so as to define with said bottom, when the latter is in itsdownwardly swung position, a

laterally enclosed chute open at the front beneath the bottom edge-of the front wall of said box.

17. A self-contained dumping box structure comprising a box portionpa bottom closure for said box, means pivotally connecting said bottom closure with said box portion adjacent the rear wall of the latter for swinging movement toward and away therefrom, supporting structure connected with said box portion for supporting the latter on a supporting surface, said supporting structure having an opening adjacent the rear wall of said box so as to permit the entrance of a fork of a lift truck between said bottom closure and asupporting surface whereby when said bottom is in its downwardly swung open position it may be engaged by a fork of the lift truck and swung upwardly so as to form a closure for said box, means for releasably retaining the bottom for a closure for said box whether the latter be.

supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement with a supporting surface, said means being operable to release said bottom closure for downward swinging movement, and means mounted on said dumping box st ucture for limiting the downward swinging movement of said bottom closure with respect to said box.

18. A self-contained dumping box structure comprising a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion, means pivotally connecting one end of said bottom closure with said box portion adjacent the rear wall of the latter for swinging movement toward and away from said box por- 'tion, supporting structure connected to said box for supporting the latter on a supporting surface. said supporting structure having an opening adjacent the rear wall of said box to permit the entrance of the fork of a lift truck between said bottom closure and a supporting surface whereby when said bottom is in its downwardly swung open position it ma be engaged by the fork of the lift truck and swung upwardly thereby so as to form closure for said box, said supporting structure including an opening adjacent the front edge of said box so that materlalwithin said box may be discharged from the front end thereof when the bottom closure is in its downwardly swung open position, means for releasably retaining said bottom in its upwardly swung closure position whether the box be supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement with the supporting surface, said means being operable to release said bottom for downward swinging movement, and depending side plates on said box shaped to define with said bottom closure when the latter is in its downwardly swung position, a laterally enclosed chute open at the front beneath the bottom edge of the front wall of said box.

19. A self-contained dumping box structure comprising a box portion, a bottom closure for tom is in its downward-1y swung open position it said box, means pivotally connecting said bottom closure with said box structure adjacent the rear wall of said box portion for swinging movement toward and away from said box portion, supporting structure connected with said box porsurface irrespective of the position of said bottom closure with respect to the box portion, said supporting structure having an opening adjacent the rear wall of said box so as to permit the entrance of a fork of a lift truck between said bottom closure and a supporting surface when the bottom closure is disposed both in its upwardly swung closed position and its downwardly swung open position whereby when said bottom is in its downwardly swung open position it may be engaged by a fork ofa lift truck and swung upwardly so as to form a closure for said box, and means for releasably retaining said bottom as a closure for said box whether the latter be supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement with a supporting surface, said means being operable to release said bottom' closure for downward swinging movement.

20. A self-contained dumping box structure including a box portion, a bottom closure for said box portion, means pivotally connecting one end of said bottom closure to said box structure adjacent the rear wall of said box portion for swinging movement toward and away from said surface when said bottom closure is both in its bottom in its upwardly swung position whether the box be supported on a supporting surface or elevated out of engagement with the supporting surface, said means being operable to release said bottom for downward swinging movement.

21. The structure as claimed in claim a wherein said bottom retaining means includes supporting members pivoted to said bottom adjacent the front thereof and engageabie at their lower ends with said supporting structures so as to rcleasabiyretainsaidbottominitsupwardly swung closure position.

BROUWER D. Mom WILLIAM D. Mom.

ans-mucus man The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 16!,283 Crawford Aug. 8. 1875 318.035 Hinman Apr. 21, 1885 1,595,957 Allen Aug. 10, 1928 

